In addition to that, the special sessions court slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on each of the convicts.

Patna Additional District and Sessions Judge B M Srivastava found Yadav guilty under section 302 RW 120 (b) of the IPC, while Rajan Tiwary and Anil Yadav were given the sentence under section 302 RW 34.

After hearing on the quantum of punishment, the judge did not found the case '' the rarest of the rare'' and awarded life term to the accused.

CPI(M) leader and party MLA Ajit Sarkar was shot dead at Purnea on June 14, 1998 following which cases were lodged against the three.

Later the CBI took up the case.

Incidentally, all the three, including Pappu Yadav, were presently lodged in different jails and brought to Patna today to appear before the court. While Pappu Yadav was lodged in New Delhi's Tihar jail, Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav were lodged in Beur Central jail here.